FALLING REVENUE

FALLING REVENUE Medicare reimbursements Hospitals in the Youngstown-Warren area say they're getting less from the federal government in Medicare reimbursements, even though their employee costs and the Valley's health-care needs have increased. Generally a community with average labor costs would have a Wage Index of 1.0, but the Valley's Wage Index fell below that this year and is expected to be down again next year. Indexes are based on figures provided several years before: YearWage IndexCost report year* 1997.993719931998.983619941999.981519952000.999619962001.9543 19972002.9563 1998 * Based on figures from the listed year Source: Humility of Mary Health Partners